Being TOO open-minded and receptive can be destructive.

For a long time I thought that it was impossible to be "too open-minded." That is, I thought that you should always question yourself, always try to accept others views, always push yourself to overcome your assumptions and rigid ways of thinking.

It still seems to me that assumptions, rigid thought, and closed-mindedness are the cause of great evil in this world. BUT...

I found myself questioning EVERYTHING after awhile. "Well, that's one way to look at it." Obsessively picking at myself to ensure that I didn't develop too rigid thoughts. Impossible to express an opinion about anything, because every opinion seemed limited. Impossible to assert myself for fear of "playing ego games." Letting myself get ripped off, being super-passive, agreeing with anyone and everything that came along, just because it felt wrong to be proactive or assertive in any way.

I turned into a kind of human jellyfish.

Where is the balance? I'm still learning. Its hard. Its a hard row to hoe.

I see your point, and your not alone on that issue, but don`t be too hard on yourself, think of yourself as more diplomatic minded. Im sure you have a passion for something like a hobby or a sports team and If someone attacks it you will staunchly defend it like the rest of us would.

While reading this post I had a small flash of intuition:

Imagine that information is a fluid. Fluids, as you know, require a container. Pour the fluid into a cup and it takes shape. If the cup is transparent, the fluid can be examined easily. If the cup is opaque, it is difficult to tell if it the fluid is contaminated or safe to drink. Pour the fluid onto the floor and it becomes useless.

Your mind is the container. A mind which is too open cannot hold fluid and thus it spills onto the floor. You may have all the fluid you desire but nothing to hold it with.

The ideal state of mind is the transparent cup. The transparent cup holds a small amount of fluid at a time but allows it to be easily examined.

The mind of the sheeple is the opaque cup. They don't know what's in the cup but they'll drink it willingly.

reply to post by Indigo Starchild

Having an open mind doesn't remove the viability of having a discerning mind.

The openness indicates the width of the channel and thus how much can potentially be processed, the discernment indicates how the information will flow through the channel and the application of it when it comes out the other side.

Best on the widening of your channel and sharpening of your discernment.

Namaste.

Be open minded. But not so open minded your brains fall out. - Carl sagan

All the above posters have said it best
way to go ats! x a

reply to post by Indigo Starchild


I see your point. For me however, being too open minded seems to mean the opposite of what you experience. Instead of agreeing with everyone, becoming a jelly fish, i find myself questioning everyones opinion. Even if their opinion is the same as mine about something, i still question it once anyone express it, to the point where people think i disagree with them and become hostile. Even if i actually have the same opinion, i just want to explore the possibilities, find the "weakest" link in the assumption so to speak, in order to fortify my own beliefs on the subject, rather than crush theirs. I find it pretty scary how many of my own rigid beliefs and assumptions have rather been weakened this way, than strenghtened.

It just shows how little we really know. Indeed, the more i question, the less i find i actually know.

The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” ― Socrates

Knowing the difference between right and wrong is a good start in forming a boundary. Hopefully you would not take part in a bank robbery just because your so called friends would so you should have some limits already in place. It is just a matter of adjusting them so you can help stop yourself and others getting ripped off with some of the more minor transgressions.

With so much cultural diversity out there it is also hard to know where the lines are at times and it is not until we cross them that we can define them. By being open to the world I expect you would have a clearer idea of where things are.

I very much understand the confusion that can set it when being open to the world and all of the conflicting stories and ideals that do take place. Learning to live with doubt is ok until it is time to make a decision, then it is time to fall back onto the things you are sure about and just let the rest go for a little while.

reply to post by Indigo Starchild


I was like you OP, in junior high. And by the end of the 3 years, I had been bullied in every way possible because I was "too nice, agreeable and didn't stand up for myself". It wasn't until I was in my 20s that I learned "it's okay to say no." And because I was a push over for so long, I developed a temper and intolerance for injustice.

Now, I'm nearly 40 and I have a good philosophy in my life.

When I'm right, I'm right and no one can convince me otherwise.
When I'm wrong, I'll admit it, and apologize for being so stubborn.
When I don't know something, I'll find the answer on my own through research or by asking my guides.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Don't let others try and bully you into their way of thinking. The good people in life worth knowing, are those who will respect you for your opinions and what you believe in. The rest? Just aren't worth a dime.

I think ErgotheConfusion summed it up pretty thoroughly.

reply to post by Qi Maker

Thanks.

We see what we let through.

Odd but I feel it's time to roll on outta these parts.

ATS has been fun.

Namaste.

reply to post by Indigo Starchild


Hi Indigo,

I get the feeling that you are too much in your head. There is nothing wrong with opening your mind to new opinions, theories and philosophies (in fact I would support it), but there must be something there to act as a filter.

This is where intuition (INner TUITION) comes in.

If you're not doing this already, then starting meditating daily and get away from people/books/web.... so you can find your own centre and place in the world.

When you find a 'nugget' of wisdom that resonates with you, then STICK WITH IT. Program it in to your sub-consciousness with affirmations or whatever technique works, and then live it - be true to it. This will in turn make you shine and sparkle and an example of how magical life can be. You will also attract people and experiences in to your life to reinforce this belief.

Sorry if this came across as a bit preachy, but this is what I 'felt' when I read your post.

Peace, Love & Light

* Ned

The problem comes from being conditioned to be "sure" about things; being uncomfortable with uncertainty. Though uncertainty is the only thing we have, people are much more comfortable with lies and self-deceptions. It's the same mechanism that makes people claim to have perfect knowledge of the afterlife or god or whatever, just on a smaller scale.

I've lived my whole life with uncertainty. It's the fundamental underpinning of my worldview. Every perception, every interpretation, every story and measurement, ALL are tentative and always will be. The key is to become comfortable with the idea of "making bets".

At first you may find yourself paralyzed with indecision, as the OP describes. But that comes not from the uncertainty itself, but rather from the reflex of seeking certainty before making a decision. Once you really internalize the fact that any such certainty is a lie you're telling yourself, you become MUCH more decisive than those who fool themselves into thinking they KNOW The TRUTH because you've changed the meaning of the word "decision". It no longer means "I accept this as being True." but, rather, "I am assigning an approximately 75% chance of this likely being the case, baring further evidence."

Congratulations, OP! You're finally adopting a mature viewpoint that most of the children on this world have never begun to perceive. Once you get through the adolescence of chapel perilous (to mix metaphors), you'll understand SO MUCH MORE than you ever did before.

reply to post by Indigo Starchild

 

It still seems to me that assumptions, rigid thought, and closed-mindedness are the cause of great evil in this world. BUT...

Oh you have NO idea.... it is those two words that actually triggered the hate in me as its one of the things that reminds me of my childhood bullies. Luckily I only teach dark lessons, but friends try and get even mostly out of spite.

OP, I know how you feel, but hang in there, there is not really such a thing as "too open minded" you just gotta look at things without judgement and always look at things with compassion and understanding. There will come a time when the puzzle pieces will automatically fit itself together and things will make sense, once this happens you will discard the useless information you have gathered and move on to the next puzzle.


It feels destructive at first because your mind is in chaos, but the further you go the deeper into the cloud you head, sooner or later you will break through that dark cloud and realize most of the illusions.